Week 4 in the NFL has come and gone, and the NFC North is shaping up to be a battleground of epic proportions. While the Detroit Lions had a bye week to prepare for Monday's matchup against the Seattle Seahawks, the other teams in the division gave us plenty to talk about.
Vikings Edge Out Packers in a Nail-Biter
First up, we had the Minnesota Vikings taking on the Green Bay Packers, and what a rollercoaster of a game it was! The Vikings rocketed to a 28-0 lead, but they almost blew it. According to a report from Lions Wire by Billy Riccette, turnovers and muffed punts allowed the Packers to claw their way back into the game. Ultimately, a failed onside kick sealed the Packers' fate, and the Vikings escaped with a 31-29 victory, improving to 4-0 while the Packers fell to 2-2.
Notably, Vikings QB Sam Darnold had a stellar day, completing 20 of 28 passes for 275 yards, three touchdowns, and one interception. The running game was bolstered by Aaron Jones, who amassed 93 rushing yards on 22 carries, playing against his former team for the first time. For the Packers, QB Sam Darnold (yes, another one) had a busy day, throwing for 389 yards with four touchdowns and three interceptions. However, it just wasn't enough to complete the comeback.
The Vikings will now head to London to face the New York Jets, while the Packers are set to meet the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday.
Bears Come Out on Top Against the Rams
Next, let's talk about the Chicago Bears who faced off against the Los Angeles Rams. In a tightly contested battle, the Bears emerged victorious with a 24-18 win. As Billy Riccette from Lions Wire pointed out, quarterback Caleb Williams completed 17 of 23 passes for 157 yards and one touchdown. D'Andre Swift was a beast on the ground, racking up 93 rushing yards, including a crucial 36-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter. He also led the team in receiving yards with 72. With this victory, the Bears climbed to 2-2 while the Rams dropped to 1-3.
Looking ahead, the Bears will face the Carolina Panthers next week and then fly to London for a duel with the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 6.
The Standings After Week 4
So, how does the NFC North look heading into Week 5? Here are the standings as they sit now:
- Minnesota Vikings: 4-0
- Detroit Lions: 2-1
- Green Bay Packers: 2-2
- Chicago Bears: 2-2
It's clear that the Vikings are currently setting the pace in the division. According to USA TODAY Sports, the Vikings looked legit in their road win over the Packers, standing out as the team to beat. The Packers and Bears are sitting at .500, while our Detroit Lions have a chance to make a move up the standings by taking care of business on Monday night.
With so much still up in the air, Week 4 showed us that the NFC North is anyone's game. As the season progresses, each team will need to bring their A-game to stay in the hunt for the top spot. Let's see if the Lions can shake things up next week!
What other sites are saying about this topic
NFL Week 4 winners, losers: Steelers, Eagles pay for stumbles from Yahoo Sports
32 things we learned in NFL Week 4: One NFC team separating from the pack? from USA TODAY Sports
Week 4 NFC North roundup from Billy Riccette, Lions Wire